Candidate for Council, Film/TV/Streaming Sector
I’m Sharyn Rothstein. I’m a playwright and television writer.
My platform is simple: PROTECT WRITERS. PROTECT JOBS.
As a Council Member, I will fight for our union to protect writers from encroaching First Amendment and AI threats. I will also work tirelessly to help the union expand job opportunities, enhance streaming residuals and ensure that the minimums in our new contract are no longer taken as maximums.
My goals are to fight for expanded writer’s room size and season orders so that TV writers have more chances to be hired and are able to grow their careers once on a show. I want more of us to be paid to produce our episodes on set, and to be paid fairly for post-production work. I want late night writers to have more job security. I want screenwriters to be paid for all of their work. I believe we need to have a plan for the growing exploitation of free content on sites such as YouTube. I will make this a priority.
I’ve been in the WGA East for more than 13 years. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work consistently since then, spending five years on the staff of SUITS, running rooms for Apple during the pandemic and working as a Co-Executive Producer for Orphan Black: Echoes, SUITS LA and currently for EINSTEIN, a new CBS drama.
I’ve worked in LA as needed, but New York has always been my home. My dream is for us to increase the number of writer’s rooms and productions in and around New York. That’s why I’ve lobbied with WGA East in Albany to expand the tax credit for New York-based rooms and writers. I also served as a WGA East Captain during the strike.
I’m running for the Council to give back to the WGA just a fraction of what it has given to me and my family. The gift of health insurance and pension for doing a job I love is something I will never take for granted. The union has fought on my behalf when producers tried to claim a cable show was intended for streaming, and when a network refused to pay contractually-obligated moving fees. I have seen firsthand that without the WGA, we’re just individual writers, easy to abuse and undermine. With the WGA, we are a force.
I believe we need experienced TV writers on the Council to speak to the current state of the industry. As a Council Member I pledge to listen to all of you, to take your concerns seriously and to be a voice of strength in safeguarding our union and our futures.
Responses to Candidate Questions
1. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the Guild and what steps will you take to address it?
In our current, difficult moment of entertainment industry contraction, it’s more important than ever for us to fight for greater, and more remunerative, employment opportunities. These opportunities are the bedrock of our health and pension funds, and without expanding and safeguarding jobs we risk losing a generation of younger writers who are the future our of industry and Guild. I believe we need an initiative to raise awareness among showrunners and upper level writers about ways to push back on pressure from producers to keep room size small, prevent writers from going to set and failure to pay adequately for post production work. I will fight to increase health and pension contributions as a counterweight to the loss of income from diminished writing opportunities in the coming MBA negotiation.
2. WGAE is divided into three sectors: Film, Television, and Streaming; Broadcast, Cable, and Streaming News, and; Online Media. How will you work with and represent all Guild members, including those outside of your own work sector?
No matter our sector, all of us need strong, unified leadership, committed to safeguarding our First Amendment rights as writers and content creators. I’m excited to learn from members in other sectors, and find initiatives that can bring us together as a Union. I think it’s crucial address AI issues together, and I would strategize cross-sectors tactics to move that forward.
3. What qualities or characteristics do you look for in a Guild leader?
I believe a Guild leader should be transparent and approachable, honest and dedicated. For Film, Television and Streaming, I believe we need leaders who have experience with the current state of our business, and the challenges and pressures facing writers.
4. What do you think WGAE’s role should be in the broader labor movement?
As a Captain during the strike, I was amazed by our Union’s strength, and our outsized power in the overall labor movement. I believe we should continue to stand for the power and necessity of labor unions writ large, especially in this dangerous moment for American workers. However, I also believe the WGA is strongest when we are concentrated on protecting writers, content creators and journalists. There is no shortage of action needed to protect our members in the current political and economic climate; we must never lose our focus on putting our membership first.
Endorsements
Sofia Alvarez, Chiara Atik, David Breckman, Julia Brownell, Yasmine Cadet, Kevin Cortez, David Jaher, Penelope Koechl, Todd Levin, Michael Mitnick, Becky Mode, Lisa Parsons, CQ Quintana, Celine Robinson, Erica Saleh, William Scheft Jr, Aurin Squire, Sasha Stewart, Anna Ziegler
WGAW: Jon Cowan, David Klass, Catya McMullen , Heather Mitchell, Rick Muirragui
Endorse Sharyn Rothstein for Council, Film/TV/Streaming Sector
Note: WGAW members who wish to endorse a candidate may follow the process outlined in section G.1.B of the 2025 Election Policy.
